ITEM:
TOTAL:
Whisky Blog

Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix - Triumph Over Adversity

By Anto Coates

Part of the allure of whisky is the romance. It's a mental image of a glorious warming spirit that comes from an ancient salt-lashed distillery perched on a cliff above a churning sea; the misty moors just behind and of course a peat bog for good measure.

Our latest acquisition is another chapter in the romance of man versus the elements. It's the Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix and it's a whisky that was born during the great snow storms of January 2010. The snow was so thick that it caved in the roof of the distillery, potentially laying waste to many barrels of whisky as the temperatures plunged below zero. Malt Master Brian Kinsman commemorated the event by releasing a special limited edition bottling called Snow Phoenix. The whisky is a blend of components between 12 and 30 years old and is bottled without chill-filtering (ironically) and at 47.6% alcohol.

Kinsman said: "Standing amongst the wreckage and exposed casks, we were working out our next steps and assessing the situation. I was thinking about how the casks, some of which were very old, contained some beautiful whisky and it occurred to me that they would create a fantastic non-aged single malt. A limited edition bottling from the whiskies in the damaged warehouses would be an appropriate way of celebrating the pioneering spirit of the distillery team at this moment in Glenfiddich's history. "

"A photographer was shooting the scene and rather fittingly, when we looked at the pictures, the light shining through the warehouse roofs looked like a phoenix rising above us. I suppose this was the moment of conception of Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix."

Quotes sourced from Gemma McKenna's article in Harpers Wine & Spirits
The Products...
There are no procucts for this search.
Staff Recommendations

KIERAN

And the good weather starts! I had a fantastic roast shoulder of lamb on the weekend.

DANIEL

Give me big flavour at cask strength if possible please.
Breaking News
16-May-2012 - RT @Wellington_JAG: One of the most amazing wine experiences of my life with @regionalwines & Christopher Canan tasting @DOMAINEGUIG ...
16-May-2012 - Absorbing read...the full gamut of emotions from envy to schadenfreude. Click Here
12-May-2012 - Free Mt Difficulty wine tasting starting in 10 mins. Plus we have 20 fill your own taps as of yesterday...great... Click Here
12-May-2012 - Free Mt Difficulty tasting starting in 10 mins until 4 pm today. We now have 20 beer taps too...gerat day to be... Click Here
View More...
Sign-up   below to be the first in the know on everything from tastings to specials...
Introduction to Malt Whisky
Monday 21st May, 6.00pm start, Cost $45.00 pp Limit 27 places per night. Upstairs Tasting Room, Regional Wines. Bookings with Ian ph 385 6952

Glendronach - Monarch of the Glen
Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th May, 6.00pm start, Cost $60.00 pp Limit 27 places. Upstairs Tasting Room, Regional Wines and Spirits. Ph Ian on ph 385 69

Contact & Enquiries
Main Line: - 04 3856952

Orders Line: 04 3849735

Fax Line: 04 3828488

Hours: Mon – Sat 9am –10pm
Sunday & Public Holidays
11am - 7.30pm
Need Help?
Try our FAQ Section

If you can't find what you are after, give us a call or pop into the store!
People! Who we are
We're a talented mix of people who love what we do, and we've been doing it for over 20 years! Click here to find out more
Copyright © 2010 Regional Wines Limited
Website by: Slice Of HAM   Design by: Plastic Studio